I live on the Canadian border in Washington State and have always gone to a travel clinic in Vancouver B.C. to get my needed shots and information on trips I’m taking so I’m not sure what U.S. travel clinics usually advise for travelers.

However, I got quite a laugh yesterday when my travel partner, Joy, for Tanzania called and told me about her crazy visit to a travel clinic in NJ. Fist, of course, they tried to get her to buy everything under the sun for her 1st trip to Tanzania (IV bags and needles, a massive medical kit, mosquito nets, etc, etc.).

Then they told her that she needs to bring enough bottled water for the entire trip as well as canned fruit! Ok…I don’t know her very well and I just found out she’s a vegetarian, but come on! There has to be ***something*** she can eat at the lodges. And the water? I believe Good Earth provides water for us during the day while we are driving and I’m sure they have nice bottled water in the lodges. Joy said she told them she wasn’t staying in the wilderness without access to food or water….

I asked Joy how they expected her to take bottled water and canned food when the weight limit is only 33pounds? And even if it wasn’t, you can’t bring any of that through the security check point so you’d have to check it all….can you imagine bottled water in a checked suitcase? I told her if she’s really worried about food to bring some power bars or something.

Personally, I’m not going there for the food (if I was, I would have booked accommodation that had a reputation for fabulous food). I’ll find something to eat and if I don’t, I don’t. Maybe I’ll lose a few pounds which would actually be good for me…more room on the way back in those tiny airplane seats! But I understand that not everyone has the same attitude about food and if you’re a vegetarian, it can be difficult. I don’t eat a lot of meat either, but I guess I just assumed they would have cooked veggies, rolls and such.

I don’t know where the NJ travel clinic is getting their information from, but it seems to me there must be some options for vegetarians in Tanzania. Are there any vegetarians out there who can offer any tips so that I can relay them to Joy to ease her mind? I think the travel clinic gave her some cause for concern.

Carrie

CarrieT -- I haven't been to Tanzania, so can't comment on the specifics there. But in Botswana, we let our travel agent know in advance that my partner is a vegetarian. With a little advance planning, the lodges are able to accommodate any dietary restrictions at all. And they're certainly accustomed to having vegetarian guests. My advice would be: (1) tell your travel agent so that s/he can inform the lodges; (2) tell the lodge staff when you arrive, in case the information was not communicated; and (3) bring a supply of power bars.

My partner had no trouble at all managing her vegetarian diet while in Botswana. No need to bing water, fruit, or anything of the sort.

As for you, don't expect to lose weight -- safaris are pretty sedentary, and the food is quite good.

Have a fabulous trip, and don't worry about food.

Beth

as beth already advised you should let know the TA about the vegetarian needs.

ANY camp/lodge in TZ will be capable to provide vegetarian dishes.
but you should be as specific as possible. e.g. if you opt for NOT eating any salad (bc afraid of contaminated water which is mostly unreasoned) they should know beforehand.

if you are very much a cheese person and appreciate pasta they should also know in order to get enough supply.
if you are not so much into indian spices - let them know. especially as in east africa based on the big indian communities and therefore influence you might end up being offerend lots of vegetable curries.....for lunch and a variation of that for dinner. we were spending 12 nights in one camp in kenya and since then i am really piss.. off by a certain indian flavour
the more the camp knows about your expectations the better!

also advise the lodge manager on arrival to make sure the chef won't be cought by surprise when you sit down for your first meal!

regarding the water:
just forget about it. any camp/lodge will provide you with bottled water for drives and also for the tent/room. no need whatsover to bring bottled water.
maybe the adviser has never been to east africa and has been living under a rock ;-)

regarding the mosquito net:
we always carry one with us. it's light weight and tiny and so helpful. not only in view to mosquitoes but also if one - like me - is affraid of crawling inhabitants.
since i experienced my first scorpion crawling up the tent roof in bot where there was no net and cost me a sleepless night we always carry one. easy to fix in any tent even if this requires some re-design of the tent interior
furthermore as there is no such thing like a "mosquito-proof tent" in the world i love my tiny net to be travelling with me ;-)

regarding medical kit:
just pack what you personally need plus some immodium, relief for itches and bites, an allround antibiotics. mostly a medical evacuation service ins included in the rate if something seriously happens you get flown out to arusha, nairobi or joburg.
get your med. insurance incl. transportation to your home country!

happy planning!

I think the New Jersey clinic is in it to make money, sort of like the auto garage that "suggests" you need a complete overhaul when you come in for an oil change. I've been to Tanzania three times and am headed there again in September. Other than a small kit for things like a cold, headache, etc., she won't need anything other than her malaria prophylactic and the usual toiletries. Bottled water is plentiful and Good Earth will have no problem supplying all you need. If advised in advance, they will also ensure that your friend will have lots of vegetarian choices. I travel with Kibo and have found that the meals usually consist of small portions of many dishes, so if you don't like something, you certainly won't go hungry. I took a bank club group a few years ago and the director, who travels for a living and goes to places like New York, London and Paris, told the mobile tented camp chef that his was the best food she had ever had on a trip! She wasn't just being kind; it was that good.

Thank you for the tips. Yes, that was my feeling as well - that the NJ clinic was trying to make a little cash off someone who was worried about the trip. I'll tell Joy to let the lodges when we arrive. I believe I already wrote to Good Earth Tours and let them know.

ShayTay, does Kibo do camping style safaris? I'm thinking of doing something like that for my next trip. Boy they chef must have been excellent on that trip!

Thanks again!

Carrie

I am also a vegetarian, and I don't like spice at all. I have been to South Africa, not Tanzania, but I had minimal problems. I agree with what the others have said. Advance notice, buy bottled water once arrived, and bring some power bars. I did lose weight, as I did not have much to choose from that was free of over-powering spices. Really, my largest problem was the embarrassment of eating nothing but white dinner rolls in front of cooks who tried to make something I would be able to eat. My method is to just acknowledge that I'm a picky eater, and I'm not going to like the food everywhere I go. I would never let diet issues keep me from going some place, and I don't expect every cook to cater to me although I appreciate it if they try. You just gotta bring some granola bars, suck it up, and make due with what is available. I had a great time there regardless.

With what's going on now regarding certain tomatoes and salmonella, I'm glad I had my fill while in Tanzania and Kenya. Along with lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, green peppers. Plenty of mango, papaya, watermellon, bananas, pineapple. You name it, more than enough for a vegetarian.

No problem either with eggs, pastas, fish (which I don't eat, as allergic), chicken, beef, veal, pork. Even raw beef carpaccio at a wonderful restaurant in Nairobi and here to tell about it. Oh, and, absolutely leave room for desserts.

As others have said, the NJ clinic went overboard with it's precautions. With the exception to stick with bottled water, East Africa is very civilized!

CarrieT, Kibo has their own mobile tented camps for groups. If you're on your own, there is a mobile camp that is "shared" in the Serengeti. Outside of that, they mostly use the Tanganyika Wilderness Camps' properties. (There is some shared ownership there.) www.tanganyikawildernesscamps.com.

Of course, they can also book you into other properties, as well.

CarrieT, I am a vegetarian who travels to Tz. The camps and lodges are more than prepared for those with special dietary requirements including abundant choices for vegetarians....your friend <i>will not</i> go without!!

Thank you for your reassurances. I will certainly let Joy know that she will be fine without brining a suitcase full of canned fruit instead of clothing ;-)

ShayTay, thanks! I'll be checking them out for my next trip (I'm just assuming I'm going to love it and want to go back).

Carrie

Unless the NJ travel clinic was under the impression that Joy was traveling completely on her own and not visiting any established lodging, I would question the rest of their information too. At least compare it with CDC or post it here. Normally I would not question a medical clinic but they were so far off on the canned food and bottled water that I wonder how legit they are.